The city of Friendswood is awaiting a final cost estimate for a new fire station while half the design work is completed, reports the Houston Chronicle.

The $5 million project for the fire station will include a new training facility and will be funded through a $9.1 million proposition.

The fire chief said a new fire station and training facility would better protect against potential storm damage and would boost the department’s training capabilities.

The fire station was rehabilitated in 2004 when it sustained storm damage.

The Somersworth City Council is facing decisions around the soaring cost to build the new fire station, reports Foster’s Daily Democrat.

The planned station is to replace the 8,100-square-foot fire station, built in 1976. The city originally authorized a $7.7 million bond to finance the fire station, but now city officials say the cost has since gone up to $9 million.

The Fire Station Building Committee looked to make almost $500,000 in cuts to reduce the cost of the design by removing the training tower and using more cost-effective materials, lowering the cost of the project to $6,490,977.

The city hopes to address the $1.3 million difference with a combination of federal grants and city funds rather than adding the full amount to the amount of money it had planned to bond.

According to a report from TimesNews, the town of Montverde, Florida, has donated a 2000 Pierce Contender 1,250-gallons-per-minute engine to the Hawkins County (TN) Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which then placed it with the Goshen Valley Volunteer Fire Department (GVVFD) in Church Hill, Tennessee.

The HCVFA, an all-volunteer organization, serves Hawkins County’s eight volunteer fire departments.

HCVFA Secretary/Treasurer Don Hiett, a former fire chief in Atlanta (GA) now retired in Hawkins County, initiated contact with Montverde and facilitated the donation.

The GVVFD paid for the cost of delivery and used the donation to replace a 45-year-old fire truck in its fleet.

The donated truck arrived with some tools, appliances, supply hose, and air packs (minus the air bottles). The truck is now being serviced and tested.

A “push-in” ceremony is scheduled for September at GVVFD’s Station No. 1, located on 1087 Goshen Valley Road, near Church Hill.

The GVVFD has been serving the community since 1992. It runs two engines and two tankers from two fire stations.

Citizens interested in promoting fire safety and public service are invited to join the HCVFA, which meets the second Wednesday every other month.

According to a report from KSNB, Hastings (NE) Fire and Rescue (HFR) had added a new fire truck, “Quint-1,” to its fleet, and will replace two of its older fire trucks.

HFR Firefighter-EMT and apparatus operator Jarred Hackler said he will be one of the six drivers of the truck.

Quint-1 will replace two apparatus that are 30 and 35 years old, respectively. Although fire trucks are built to last many years, Hackler said that a different suspension, more capabilities, and improved handling and control were major factors in why the HFD called for a new truck. He also said that the advanced technology has advanced so much within that time frame that the new unit is simply a better fit for the department.

The HFR welcomed its most previous truck, Quint-2, in 2009.

HFR’s budget for Quint-1 was $985,000. Hackler said this amount was necessary for the safety of members and to keep up with technology.

HFR Chief Brad Starling said that Quint 1 arrived earlier this week, but the department must still do acceptance testing with the manufacturer, place all its equipment on the vehicle, and train personnel on it. He also said he does not expect Quint 1 to be ready to roll out for service for another three to four weeks.